Southern Railways installs camera, data recorder in express engines

According to a reliable SR source said, “Every operation performed by the loco pilot and his assistant could be reviewed by the engineering department, as the camera keeps a close eye on the entire control panel. The recorded video would be monitored, even when they do not record an accident,” The data recorder would document the conversation happening between the loco pilot and his assistant during the journey, mainly the “call out” interaction during which the crew members would confirm signals and speed restrictions between themselves. DT Next has learnt from reliable railway sources that a camera and data recorder have already been fixed in the locomotive of an express train in Chennai division.

However, the monitoring system has drawn flak from loco pilots, who argue that it would restrict their operational freedom and affect the psyche of the train crew. “Performance of pilots vary even when an officer travels on board for fish plate inspection. Imagine being monitored by the big brother 24x7. Even if a loco pilot yawns more than once, they will make a fuss and question his fitness. Pilots would go by the book and not react instinctively to contingencies, if they are monitored so. The physical movements of pilots, like stretching, would also be restricted and commented upon,” argued a senior loco pilot member of All India Loco Running Staff Association.

Ironically, the ministry has yet to implement the high-level task force recommendation of fixing jammers in engines, to prevent loco pilots from using mobile phones onboard. “If they had fitted jammers, we would have agreed. Cameras would only help fix accountability on pilots easily and not better safety,” argued a loco pilot in Chennai division. Electrical wing has been using cameras (retrofitted temporarily in locomotives and attached to a computer in the under gear) to monitor OHE performance and identify problematic spots on the route.